Republicans Must Now Show They Can Govern

We use cookies to give you the best experience. If you do nothing we'll assume that it's ok.

Video: How The Senate Looks After Midterms

By Tim Gallagher, Washington DC Bureau Chief

The US midterms have dragged on for months, cost billions of dollars and delivered another shellacking to President Barack Obama.

They also proved beyond any doubt that political adverts featuring pig castration can improve one's chances of securing elected office.

This was supposed to be an election about punishing Democrats without too generously rewarding Republicans.

In the end it was a stronger-than-expected night for the Republicans.

The major upsets came in Colorado and North Carolina, where Republicans triumphed in races that went to the wire.

1/11

Gallery: Midterms: Election Day In America

The Empire State Building in New York City turns red to mark the Republican triumph in the Senate midterm election races

Kentucky Republican Mitch McConnell will be the next leader of the US Senate as his party swept to power

]]>

The conservatives cruised to control of the Senate, boosted their House of Representatives majority and chalked up a slew of gubernatorial victories, breaking political opponents' hearts

]]>

Elections judge Constance Rolon, 96, hands out "I Voted!" stickers in Denver, Colorado

]]>

Georgia had threatened to go to a run-off. On the night it was settled decisively for the GOP.

The big winner was Kentucky Republican Senator Mitch McConnell, who fulfils a lifelong ambition to lead his party in a Republican Senate.

Mr McConnell is not a man not known for his charisma, but he is a skilled political operator.

His challenge now is to prove that his party can govern effectively alongside a Democratic president on issues as diverse as the economy and the war on the Islamic State militant group.

If the last two years of the Obama presidency continue to be as rancorous and dysfunctional as the first six, Mitch McConnell may be blamed. And that could work badly for the Republicans in the race for the White House in 2016.

US midterm elections are always bad for the incumbent party.

But one of the themes of this race has been how dissatisfied voters are with all politicians.

Two more years of gridlock from a Republican-controlled Congress could work badly for a Republican seeking to persuade the voters they are the change needed to put America back on the right track, as US politicians like to promise.

What does this mean for Hillary Clinton's chances of becoming President?

The former Secretary of State was highly visible during the midterms, lending her support in several tight races.

While aligning herself with unsuccessful campaigns may dim her megawattage in the short term, a Republican House and Senate might work in her favour.

It allows her to present herself as the change candidate, something which may feel very welcome in two years' time.

And, currently, Hillary is the person to beat.

She is viewed as the main threat by Republicans.

Tellingly, Kentucky Republican Senator Rand Paul - a prospective presidential candidate himself - came out swinging shortly after the result in his state:

"They [the Clintons] campaigned hard here. Did they help the ticket? I don't think so," he told Fox News.

And the pig castration? Joni Ernst, the new Republican Senator for Iowa, earned notoriety with her bizarre campaign advertising ("I'm Joni Ernst. I grew up castrating hogs on an Iowa farm. Washington's full of big spenders - let's make 'em squeal.")

Traditionally, Iowa is the first state in the Presidential primary season.

Wooing Iowa's voters will now become a priority for anyone chasing the big prize in American politics.

If the midterms offer any kind of template, they can look forward to an 18-month barrage of negative advertising.

There'll be plenty of squealing yet.

Recommended by Outbrain Recommended by Outbrain

Mie Keriting